Saturday of the Sixth Week of Easter
Lectionary: 296
Lectionary: 296
After staying in Antioch some time,
Paul left and traveled in orderly sequence
through the Galatian country and Phrygia,
bringing strength to all the disciples.
A Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria,
an eloquent speaker, arrived in Ephesus.
He was an authority on the Scriptures.
He had been instructed in the Way of the Lord and,
with ardent spirit, spoke and taught accurately about Jesus,
although he knew only the baptism of John.
He began to speak boldly in the synagogue;
but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him,
they took him aside
and explained to him the Way of God more accurately.
And when he wanted to cross to Achaia,
the brothers encouraged him
and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him.
After his arrival he gave great assistance
to those who had come to believe through grace.
He vigorously refuted the Jews in public,
establishing from the Scriptures that the Christ is Jesus.
Paul left and traveled in orderly sequence
through the Galatian country and Phrygia,
bringing strength to all the disciples.
A Jew named Apollos, a native of Alexandria,
an eloquent speaker, arrived in Ephesus.
He was an authority on the Scriptures.
He had been instructed in the Way of the Lord and,
with ardent spirit, spoke and taught accurately about Jesus,
although he knew only the baptism of John.
He began to speak boldly in the synagogue;
but when Priscilla and Aquila heard him,
they took him aside
and explained to him the Way of God more accurately.
And when he wanted to cross to Achaia,
the brothers encouraged him
and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him.
After his arrival he gave great assistance
to those who had come to believe through grace.
He vigorously refuted the Jews in public,
establishing from the Scriptures that the Christ is Jesus.
Responsorial
PsalmPS 47:2-3, 8-9, 10
R. (8a) God is
king of all the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
All you peoples, clap your hands;
shout to God with cries of gladness.
For the LORD, the Most High, the awesome,
is the great king over all the earth.
R. God is king of all the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
For king of all the earth is God;
sing hymns of praise.
God reigns over the nations,
God sits upon his holy throne.
R. God is king of all the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The princes of the peoples are gathered together
with the people of the God of Abraham.
For God's are the guardians of the earth;
he is supreme.
R. God is king of all the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
or:
R. Alleluia.
All you peoples, clap your hands;
shout to God with cries of gladness.
For the LORD, the Most High, the awesome,
is the great king over all the earth.
R. God is king of all the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
For king of all the earth is God;
sing hymns of praise.
God reigns over the nations,
God sits upon his holy throne.
R. God is king of all the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The princes of the peoples are gathered together
with the people of the God of Abraham.
For God's are the guardians of the earth;
he is supreme.
R. God is king of all the earth.
or:
R. Alleluia.
AlleluiaJN 16:28
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
I came from the Father and have come into the world;
now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I came from the Father and have come into the world;
now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelJN 16:23B-28
Jesus said to his disciples:
"Amen, amen, I say to you,
whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.
Until now you have not asked anything in my name;
ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.
"I have told you this in figures of speech.
The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures
but I will tell you clearly about the Father.
On that day you will ask in my name,
and I do not tell you that I will ask the Father for you.
For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me
and have come to believe that I came from God.
I came from the Father and have come into the world.
Now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father."
"Amen, amen, I say to you,
whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.
Until now you have not asked anything in my name;
ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.
"I have told you this in figures of speech.
The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures
but I will tell you clearly about the Father.
On that day you will ask in my name,
and I do not tell you that I will ask the Father for you.
For the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me
and have come to believe that I came from God.
I came from the Father and have come into the world.
Now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father."
Meditation: "Ask in Jesus' name, that your joy may
be full"
Do you pray with confidence to your heavenly Father?
Jesus often taught his disciples by way of illustration or parable. Here he
speaks not in "figures" (the same word used
for parables), but in plain speech. Jesus revealed to them the
hidden treasure of the heavenly kingdom and he taught them how to pray to the
Father in his name. Now Jesus opens his heart and speaks in the plainest of
language: "The Father himself loves you!" How can
the disciples be certain of this?
The Lord Jesus unites us with the Father through the
love and power of the Holy Spirit
Paul the Apostle states that "All who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God" (Romans 8:14). Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, Jesus makes it possible for his disciples to have a new relationship as sons and daughters of God the Father (Romans 8:14-17). No one would have dared to call God his or her Father before this! Because of what Jesus has done for us in offering his life for our redemption we now can boldly and confidently pray to God as our Father in heaven.
Paul the Apostle states that "All who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God" (Romans 8:14). Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, Jesus makes it possible for his disciples to have a new relationship as sons and daughters of God the Father (Romans 8:14-17). No one would have dared to call God his or her Father before this! Because of what Jesus has done for us in offering his life for our redemption we now can boldly and confidently pray to God as our Father in heaven.
The presence and action of the Holy Spirit within us
is living proof of this new relationship with the Father. Paul the Apostles
says that "when we cry, ‘Abba! Father!' it is the Spirit himself
bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God" (Romans
8:15-16).
We can boldly approach God as our Father and ask him
for the things we need. In love he bids us to draw near to his throne of grace
and mercy. Do you approach the Father with confidence in his love and with
expectant faith in his promise to hear your prayers?
"Heavenly Father, your love knows no bounds and
your mercies are new every day. Fill me with gratitude for your countless
blessings and draw me near to your throne of grace and mercy. Give me
confidence and boldness to pray that your will be done on earth as it is in
heaven."
Daily Quote from the early church fathers: Offer prayers in Christ's name, by Cyril
of Alexandria, 376-444 A.D.
"He urges the disciples to seek for spiritual
gifts and at the same time gives them confidence that, if they ask for them,
they will not fail to obtain them. He adds the word Amen, that he might confirm
their belief that if they ask the Father for anything they would receive it
from him. He would act as their mediator and make known their request and,
being one with the Father, grant it. For this is what he means by 'in my name'.
For we cannot draw near to God the Father in any other way than through the
Son. For it is by him that we have access in the one Spirit to the Father
(Ephesians 2:8). It was because of this that he said, 'I am the door. I am the
way. No one comes to the Father but by me' (John 10:7; 14:6). For as the Son is
God, he being one with the Father provides good things for his sanctified
people and is found to be generous of his wealth to us... Let us then offer our
prayers in Christ's name. For in this way, the Father will most readily consent
to them and grant his graces to those who seek them, that receiving them we may
rejoice." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON THE
GOSPEL OF JOHN 11.2)
SATURDAY, MAY 12, JOHN 16:23b-28
Easter Weekday
(Acts 18:23-28; Psalm 47)
Easter Weekday
(Acts 18:23-28; Psalm 47)
KEY VERSE: "The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures but I will tell you clearly about the Father" (v.25).
TO KNOW: Jesus often spoke in parables using images of shepherds, vines and women in childbirth ̶ the language of human experience meant to convey the mystery of the kingdom of God. Though Jesus’ disciples were often confused as to the meaning of his words, his passion, death and resurrection would speak clearly to them of God's love. Through the revelation of the Holy Spirit, they would understand everything Jesus told them, and they would have new insights about God's reign. For the seventh time in John's gospel, Jesus said that when he was glorified he would be present to his followers in a new way, and they would be able to pray in the authority of his name. The Father loved them and would grant them whatever they needed in order to do Christ's work on earth.
TO LOVE: For whom do I need to intercede in prayer today?
TO SERVE: Risen Lord, give the Church what is needed to live this day for you.
Optional Memorial of Saints Nereus
and Achilleus, martyrs, or Saint Pancras, martyr
Nereus was a soldier in the imperial Roman army, and a member of the Praetorian Guard. He was a convert to Christianity, and allegedly baptized by Saint Peter the Apostle. Nereus was exiled for his faith, and was martyred. Pancras, a fourteen year old orphan, was brought to Rome by his uncle, Saint Dionysius. Pancras became a convert to Christianity and was martyred along with Saint Nereus, Saint Achilleus, and Saint Domitilla. Pope Vitalian sent Pancras’ relics from Rome to England as part of the evangelization of England. Saint Augustine of Canterbury dedicated the first Church in England to Saint Pancras, and subsequent churches were similarly named for him.
Saturday 12 May
2018
Ss Nereus and Achilleus. St Pancras.
Acts 18:23-28. Psalm 46(47):2-3, 8-10. John 16:23-28.
God is king of all the earth—Psalm 46(47):2-3, 8-10.
If you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to
you.
Lord, we believe you and believe that you mean what you say. We
will ask the Father, in your name, for the grace to see the world through your
eyes. This will not be easy as it will mean lots of loving—loving everyone
around us, those we like and those we don’t—and praying for those that seem to
us to be evil.
We acknowledge that there is evil in the world, that the devil
exists and is very influential. That is where our love and trust comes in—they
will beat any devil. Lord, teach us to love and to trust.
Saints Nereus and Achilleus
Saint of the Day for May 12
(? – ?)
 |
| “Flavia Domitilla van Terracina, Nereus en Achilleus” | Peter Paul Rubens |
Saints Nereus and Achilleus’ Story
Devotion to these two saints goes back to the fourth century,
though almost nothing is known of their lives. They were praetorian soldiers of
the Roman army, became Christians, and were removed to the island of Terracina,
where they were martyred. Their bodies were buried in a family vault, later
known as the cemetery of Domitilla. Excavations by De Rossi in 1896 resulted in
the discovery of their empty tomb in the underground church built by Pope
Siricius in 390.
Two hundred years after their deaths, Pope
Gregory the Great delivered his 28th homily on the occasion of their
feast. “These saints, before whom we are assembled, despised the world and
trampled it under their feet when peace, riches and health gave it charms.”
Reflection
As in the case of many early martyrs, the Church clings to its
memories though the events are clouded in the mists of history. It is a
heartening thing for all Christians to know that they have a noble heritage.
Our brothers and sisters in Christ have stood in the same world in which we
live—militaristic, materialistic, cruel and cynical—yet transfigured from
within by the presence of the Living One. Our own courage is enlivened by the
heroes and heroines who have gone before us marked by the sign of faith and the
wounds of Christ.
LECTIO DIVINA: JOHN 16:23B-28
Lectio Divina:
Saturday, May 12, 2018
1) OPENING PRAYER
Lord God, merciful Father,
it is hard for us to accept pain,
for we know that You have made us
for happiness and joy.
When suffering challenges us
with a provocative "why me?"
help us to discover the depth
of our inner freedom and love
and of all the faith and loyalty
of which we are capable,
together with, and by the power of,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
it is hard for us to accept pain,
for we know that You have made us
for happiness and joy.
When suffering challenges us
with a provocative "why me?"
help us to discover the depth
of our inner freedom and love
and of all the faith and loyalty
of which we are capable,
together with, and by the power of,
Jesus Christ our Lord.
2) GOSPEL READING - JOHN
16:23B-28
Jesus said to his disciples: "Amen,
amen, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you.
Until now you have not asked anything in my name; ask and you will receive, so
that your joy may be complete. "I have told you this in figures of speech.
The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures but I will
tell you clearly about the Father. On that day you will ask in my name, and I
do not tell you that I will ask the Father for you. For the Father himself
loves you, because you have loved me and have come to believe that I came from
God. I came from the Father and have come into the world. Now I am leaving the
world and going back to the Father."
3) REFLECTION
• John 16:23b: The disciples have full
access to the Father. This is the assurance that Jesus gives to His disciples:
they can have access to God’s fatherhood in union with Him. Jesus’ mediation
takes the disciples to the Father. Clearly, the role of Jesus is not that of
substituting Himself for “His own.” He does not assume it by means of a
function of intercession, but He unites them to Himself, and in communion with
Him they present their needs.
The disciples are certain that Jesus can
access the riches of the Father: “In all truth I tell you, anything you ask
from the Father in My name, He will grant it to you” (v.23b). In such a way, it
means, in union with Him, the petition becomes effective. The object of any
petition to the Father must always be joined to Jesus, that is to say, to His
love and to His commitment to give His life for man (Jn 10:10). Prayer
addressed to the Father, in the name of Jesus, in union with Him (Jn 14:13; 16:23),
is heard.
Until now they have not asked anything
in the name of Jesus, but they will be able to do it after His glorification
(Jn 14:13) when they will receive the Spirit who will fully enlighten them on
His identity (Jn 4, 22ff) and will create the union with Him. His own will be
able to ask and receive the fullness of joy when they will go from the sensory
vision of Him to that of faith.
• Jn 16:24-25: In Jesus the direct
contact with the Father. The believers are taken into the relationship between
the Son and the Father. In Jn 16:26 Jesus once again speaks about the link
produced by the Spirit that permits His own to present every petition to the
Father in union with Him. That will take place “on that day.” What does this
mean: “On that day you will ask”? It is the day when He will come to His own
and will transmit the Spirit to them (Jn 20:19,22). It is then that the
disciples, knowing the relationship between Jesus and the Father, will know
that they will be listened to. It will not be necessary for Jesus to intervene
between the Father and the disciples to ask on their behalf, not because His
mediation has ended, but they, having believed in the Incarnation of the Word,
and being closely united to Christ, will be loved by the Father as He loves His
Son (Jn 17:23,26). In Jesus the disciples experience direct contact with the
Father.
• John 16:26-27: The prayer to the
Father. To pray consists, then, in going to the Father through Jesus; to
address the Father in the name of Jesus. The expression of Jesus in vv. 26-27,
“And I do not say that I shall pray to the Father for you; because the Father
Himself loves you”, deserves special attention. The love of the Father for the
disciples is founded on the adherence of “His own” to Jesus on faith in His provenance,
the acknowledgment of Jesus as gift of the Father.
After having gathered the disciples to
Himself Jesus seems to withdraw from His role of mediator, but in reality He
permits that the Father take us and seize us: “Ask and you will receive and so
your joy will be complete” (v.24). Inserted into the relationship with the
Father through union in Him, our joy is complete and prayer is perfect. God
always offers His love to the whole world, but such a love acquires the sense
of reciprocity only if man responds. Love is incomplete if it does not become
reciprocal: as long as man does not accept, it remains in suspense.
However, the disciples accept it at the moment in which they love Jesus and
thus they render operational the love of the Father. Prayer is this
relationship of love. In the end the history of each one of us is identified
with the history of His prayer, even at the moments which do not seem to be
such. Longing, yearning is already prayer and in the same way, searching,
anguish...
4) PERSONAL QUESTIONS
• Does my personal and community prayer
take place in a state of calmness, silence, and great peace?
• How much effort or commitment do I
dedicate to growing in friendship with Jesus? Are you convinced of attaining a
real identity through communion with Him and in the love for neighbor?
• How do I view my union with Jesus,
reflecting on Song of Songs 2:16, “My beloved is mine, and I am his” ?
• Do I pray in union with Jesus, or with
my own ideas and agenda?
5) CONCLUDING PRAYER
God reigns over the nations,
seated on His holy throne.
The leaders of the nations rally
to the people of the God of Abraham. (Ps 47:8-9)
seated on His holy throne.
The leaders of the nations rally
to the people of the God of Abraham. (Ps 47:8-9)
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